Prisoners get more years for escaping from custody

THREE Chinsali prisoners have been sentenced to one and two years’ imprisonment with hard labour respectively for escaping from lawful custody.

Appearing before Chinsali Magistrate Susan Mulenga was Chris Kapambwe,21, a satellite dish installer, Enock Nguni,21, a peasant farmer and Tuesday Chiluba, 34 ,charged with one count of escaping from lawful custody contrary to section 119 of chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence were that Kapambwe a convict at Chinsali state prison on 10th April 2015 being in custody of no 4322 Chief Inspector Sikasale a warder, unlawfully did escape from such custody while at a working party in the prison garden.

Kapambwe who pleaded guilty to the charge was however recaptured the following day 11 April, 2015 following a tip off from members of the public.

In previous conviction on burglary and theft and escaping from lawful custody, the accused Kapambwe was sentenced to 5 years and 2 years respectively both sentences running consecutively.

It is also believed that on 6th March this year Nguni being custody of Sargent Tembo, a warder did escape from lawful custody while working at Isoka state prison farm.

The court also heard that Nguni was serving 3 years imprisonment before he escaped from prison and was only rearrested three days later.

The court further heard that Chiluba, another convict of Chinsali State Prison did escape from custody under the watch of Sargent Sumbulelo on 8th April, 2015 and was captured on 9th April in Malalo village in Chinsali District.

In passing judgement, Magistrate Mulenga said the court had found Kapambwe,Nguni and Chiluba guilty upon their own admission of guilt and sentenced them accordingly.

Magistrate Mulenga said he was sentencing Kapambwe and Nguni to 2years and Chiluba to 1 year imprisonment with hard labour to run consecutively.